Current-director.



Patented Dec. 30, |902.

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J1 REID, 1n. CURRENT DIRECTOR. (Application filed Sept, 15, 1899.)

Invenor by www? q @QMS/pgn! ATB/3 UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

JAMES REID, JR., OF IVATERVLIET, NEW YORK, vASSIGNOR TO CONSOLI- DATED CAR-HEATING COMPANY, OF ALBANY, NEW YORK, A CORPO- RATION OF IVEST VIRGINIA.

CURRENT-DIRECTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters vIII-atent .N o. 717,451, dated December 30, 1902.

Application tiled September 15, 1899. Serial No. 730,562. (No model.)

To LZZ whom, t Wray concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES REID, Jr., a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Watervliet, `in the county of Albany and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ourrent-Directors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in current-directors; and the object of my invention is to provide an improved switch foi` the purpose of directing the current to either of two circuits or to both circuits when desired or cutting the current out of each circuit, and which shall be so constructed that the making and breaking of the circuit shall be done instantaneously and with little or no sparking. I attain this object by means of the mechanism illustrated in the accompany ing drawings, in which;

Figure 1 is a plan. Fig. 2 is a cross-secd tion along the line c on Fig. l. Fig. 3 is an inverted plan of the casting B.-

Similarletters referto similar parts throughout the several views.

In the block A, which may be made of porcelain or any suitable material, I place a recess adapted to retain the casting or stud-plate B, which is provided with a rim C and preferably with a post D. I arrange in the rim C a series of openings c, within each of which I place a latchbar or stud E, which is preferably right-angled, having a lower projecting portion e, fitting between the ribs b b on the lower surface of the casting or stud-plate B. (See Fig. Adjacent to each ofthe openings c in the rim G,I preferably arrange in the block A a corresponding opening ct, which will allow the latch-bars E to be drawn into the block, if necessary. The horizontal portion of the latch bar or stud is preferably attached to a spring F, said spring being wound about the lug j', the tendency of the spring being to draw the latchbar toward the center of the block. On the post D, I also place a cam-arm or cam-plate G, which is connected with one end of the spring I-I, the opposite end of said spring being connected with a similar cam-arm or cam-plate J, placed above the spring H. The cam-arm or camplate G is arranged to engage with the latchbars or studs E when the switch is operated in one direction, and the cam-arm or camplate J to engage with the said latch bars or studs when the switch is operated in the `opposite direction. Upon the post D, I also mount a metallic connecting-plate provided with the contact-fingers K, K', and K2, adapted to engage with the brushes T, l, and 2. On opposite edges of said connecting-plate I arrange stops L L', adapted to engage with and to take their position between two of the adjacent latch bars or studs E E in whichever position the switch may be turned. Depending from the metallic connecting-plate I arrange a bar N, which extends toward the bottom of the recess in the block and on one side engages with the cam-arm or cam-plate J, while on its opposite side it engages with the cam-arm or cam-plate G. On the post B I place the hub p, carrying the downwardlyprojecting arm or plate P, which is placed between the end of the cam-arm or cam-plate J and the end' of the cam-arm or cam-plate G in such a manner that one of the cam-arms or cam-plates is on one side of the arm or plate P and the otheron the opposite side, occupying a similar` position in reference to the cam-arms or cam-plates as the bar N. To the hub p I attach the hand-le O.

To operate the switch, the handle is turned in the direction desired, which will turn the arm P, and therefore move one of the camarms or cam-plates J or G, and thus place the spring under tension, While one of said camarms or cam-plates will press in the latch bar or stud engaging with one of the stops L L',

depending upon the direction in which the handle O of the switch is turned, and the contact-ngers will be moved forcibly and instantaneously, making and breaking connections with the brushes, and the mot-ionwill be arrested by the engagement ot' the stops L L' with the next adjacent latch bars or studs E.

It will be noted that I arrange an indicating-plate M, upon which I place the figures 1,J 2, and 3 and the word Oft, (other indicating characters may be substituted for these,) which will indicate the position of the switch to an inexperienced operator, these characters indicating that either one of the two circuits is being supplied with current, that both are being supplied, or that the current is flowing lo neither.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is- Y l. A current-director, consisting of a metallic connecting-plate provided with contactiingers; a depending arm secured to said plate; two cam-plates suitably mounted and adapted to engage with said depending arm, one on one side and the other on the opposite side thereof; a spring adapted to be placed under tension by the movement of either of said cam-plates; a stud-plate; a series of studs placed in openings in the periphery of the stud-plate; stops on said connectingplate adapted to be placed between and engage with adjacent studs; a handle provided with means for moving either of said camplates as desired, substantially as described.

2. In a current-director, a stud-plate provided with a series of openings in its periphery; a series of studs adapted to be placed in said openings; springs arranged to draw said studs toward the center of the stud-plate; a connecting-plate provided with fingers adapted. to engage with suitable brushes stops on said connecting-plate; a spring; means for placing under tension said spring by the movement of the switch-han dle; means for rotating the switch in either direction; means for forcing said studs out of contact with the stop on the connectingplate when the switch is rotated in either direction, substantially as described.

3. A current-directorprovided with a connecting plate carrying contact ngers,

brushes with which said fingers are adapted to engage; a spring; a handle arranged to place under tension said spring; a series of studs adapted to hold said connecting-plate in position until said spring is placed under tension and one of the studs forced out of contact with the contact-plate by the rotation of said handle, said handle adapted to be rotated in either direction and thereby operate the switch, substantially as described.

4. In a current-director, a stud-plate provided with a series of openings in its side, with a series of ribs along its under side; a series ot' studs adapted to move in said openings and to extend beneath said stud-plate and between said ribs; springs adapted to draw said studs toward the center of the stud-plate; a post carried by said stud-plate; two cam-plates mounted on said post; a spring placed about said postand connecting with each of said cam-plates and a contactplate provided with contact-lingers on said post, said contact-plate carrying a depending arm adapted to be placed between ends of said cam-plates and a handle carrying a depending plate also adapted to be placed between the ends of said cam-plates, substantially as described.

5. In a snap-switch in combination with a rotary handle and its spindle, a rotatable plate, a spring for throwing said plate made tense by the turning of handle, independent studs movable into and out of the path of said plate, guides for directing the movement of the studs, cams engaging the studs and adapted to be rotated by the turning of the handle, substantially as specified.

6. In a snap-switch in combination with the rotary handle and its spindle, a rotatable plate, a spring for throwing said plate made tense by the turning of the handle, independent studs movable radially into and out of the path of said plate, guides for directing the movement of the studs, cams engaging the studs and adapted to be rotated by the turning of the handle, substantially as specified. Y

Signed by me at Albany, New York, this 13th day of September, 1899.

- JAMES REID, JR. Witnesses:

JOHN M. ESTERLY, OHAs. B. MITCHELL. 

